TABLE 1 ] .
Characteristics of Admissions for Exacerbation of COPD, 2001 to 2011
| Characteristic | No. | % |
| Total COPD admissions | 723,560 | 100.00 |
| Patient characteristics | ||
| Female | 431,455 | 59.63 |
| Age | ||
| < 65 y | 242,196 | 33.47 |
| 65-74 y | 210,980 | 29.16 |
| 75-84 y | 198,120 | 27.38 |
| ≥ 85 y | 72,264 | 9.99 |
| Race/ethnicity | ||
| White | 524,328 | 72.47 |
| Black | 73,703 | 10.19 |
| Hispanic | 26,010 | 3.59 |
| Other | 99,519 | 13.75 |
| Comorbidity score | ||
| Low: ≤ 1 | 312,439 | 43.18 |
| Median: 2-3 | 233,775 | 32.31 |
| High: ≥ 4 | 177,346 | 24.51 |
| Concomitant pneumonia | 128,464 | 17.75 |
| No. COPD admissions in prior year | ||
| None | 497,223 | 68.72 |
| 1 | 125,365 | 17.33 |
| 2 | 48,797 | 6.74 |
| ≥ 3 | 52,175 | 7.21 |
| Hospital characteristics | ||
| Bed size | ||
| Small (< 200) | 136,463 | 18.86 |
| Medium (200-400) | 301,069 | 41.61 |
| Large (> 400) | 286,028 | 39.53 |
| Region | ||
| Midwest | 144,208 | 19.93 |
| Northeast | 131,441 | 18.17 |
| South | 355,285 | 49.10 |
| West | 92,626 | 12.80 |
| Population served | ||
| Rural | 118,473 | 16.37 |
| Urban | 605,087 | 83.63 |
| Teaching hospital | 229,546 | 31.72 |